Proliferative and necrotizing otitis externa in a kitten: Case report with literature review

Proliferative and necrotizing otitis externa (PNOE) is a rare dermatitis with unknown etiology affecting kittens between 2 to 6-months-old and adult cats. Its clinical signs are unique and diagnosis is based on skin histopathology. Lesions develop rapidly and in kittens may regress spontaneously. A 6.5-month-old, male, Siamese kitten was presented with chronic proliferative, erythematous and necrotic lesions covered with thick dark-brown keratinous debris on the concave aspect of both pinnae and the vertical ear canal leading to secondary otitis infection due to obstruction. Lesions were not pruritic or painful even though erosions and ulceration were seen focally. Previous treatment with commercial otic preparations was of no avail. Ear otoscopy could not be performed due to stenosis and ear canal cytology showed numerous bacteria intermingled with keratinocytes and debris. Radiography further confirmed ear canal stenosis. Histopathological examination revealed orthokeratotic and parakeratotic hyperkeratosis, epidermal hyperplasia with several apoptotic cells and neutrophilic crusts mixed with cocci. Topical treatment with 0.1% tacrolimus was prescribed twice daily and otic solutions for secondary otitis externa. Complete clinical cure was achieved two months after first admittance. This is the first report of PNOE in Greece. Topical tacrolimus appears to be an effective treatment for lesions that do not spontaneously regress

Constraints on the χ_(c1) versus χ_(c2) polarizations in proton-proton collisions at √s = 8 TeV

The polarizations of promptly produced χ_(c1) and χ_(c2) mesons are studied using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, in proton-proton collisions at √s=8  TeV. The χ_c states are reconstructed via their radiative decays χ_c → J/ψγ, with the photons being measured through conversions to e⁺e⁻, which allows the two states to be well resolved. The polarizations are measured in the helicity frame, through the analysis of the χ_(c2) to χ_(c1) yield ratio as a function of the polar or azimuthal angle of the positive muon emitted in the J/ψ → μ⁺μ⁻ decay, in three bins of J/ψ transverse momentum. While no differences are seen between the two states in terms of azimuthal decay angle distributions, they are observed to have significantly different polar anisotropies. The measurement favors a scenario where at least one of the two states is strongly polarized along the helicity quantization axis, in agreement with nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics predictions. This is the first measurement of significantly polarized quarkonia produced at high transverse momentum

Infective endocarditis in intravenous drug abusers: an update

Infective endocarditis despite advances in diagnosis remains a common cause of hospitalization, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Through literature review it is possible to conclude that polymicrobial endocarditis occurs mainly in intravenous drug abusers with predominance in the right side of the heart, often with tricuspid valve involvement. This fact can be associated with the type of drug used by the patients; therefore, knowledge of the patient's history is critical for adjustment of the therapy. It is also important to emphasize that the most common combinations of organisms in polymicrobial infective endocarditis are: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as mixed cultures of Candida spp. and bacteria. A better understanding of the epidemiology and associated risk factors are required in order to develop an efficient therapy, although PE studies are difficult to perform due to the rarity of cases and lack of prospective cohorts.This work was supported by Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the grants SFRH/BPD/47693/2008, SFRH/BPD/20987/2004 and SFRH/BPD/72632/2010 attributed to Claudia Sousa, Claudia Botelho and Diana Rodrigues, respectively